Vibratory apparatus for ear treatment.



. I PATENTE .MAY-14.1967.

, ffii MEYER. A

V'IBRAATURY APPARATUS PoR BAR TREATMENT)y APPLICATION FILED Dimm, 19'06.

Mums-SHEET z.

l 9M 17% j EUGENE MEYER, or lNEW YORK, 1N', Y.

vlBnAroRY .APPARATUS FOR EAR TREATMENT.

- Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented. May i4, 190'?.

'. Application filed December 24,1906. -Serial No. $49,312.

To 'all whom it nzety concern.'

Be it known that I, EUGENE MEYER, a citi .zen of the United States,residing in the bor- `ough of Manhattan, city, county, and State lof-NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VibratoryApparatus for Ear Treatment, of. Whichthe following is al specification,

My improvements relatel to apparatus for treatingthe'tympanum of the earto airpulsations orl vibrations for remedial purposes and the inventionconsists inthe special arrangement and combination of parts hereindescribed and claimed.

'In4 the accompanying -drawing's,=-Figure 1, is a side elevation of myapparatus; Fig. 2, is a plan ofthe same; Fig. 3, a central longitudinalsectional elevation upon plane of line 3-3"Fig. 2 ig. 4, is a sectionupon plane The diaphragm m, is preferably, though not necessarily, madeof mica on account of its resilience, durability and unehangeability'under changes of temperature and-atmospheric conditions. It ispreferably of circular form and its edges are supported by and betweenannular gaskets n, n, which may consist of rubber tubing as indicated inFigs. 3A and 4,-the lower gasket resting upon an annular shoulder n',in' the air chamber d, and the upper gasket being confined by an annularperipherally threaded ring a2, screwing into the upper edge ofthe aircup N in which the air or diaphragm chamber d, is formed. The air cup Nis shown as supported upon a standard n3, attached to the .plate a,which is in turn rigidly secured to the base A.

c, is a pipe or nipple extending through the bottom of the air cup N andcommunicating with the air chamber d. To this nipple c, is

attached a rubber tube r, or equivalent for conveying the air pulsationscreated by the vibrationcf the diaphragm m, to the ear or ears, ornostril or nostrils of the patient, as the case may require. Obviouslythe outer end of this tube r, 'may be bifurcated, and it may be providedwith a ,nozzle or nozzles r', for direct and air tight contact with thecar or nasal passages. Another tube e, protrudes from the bottom of theair cup N, communicating with the diaphragm chamber d', therein, asshown in 3, and in this tube e, andbetween the air cupiN and the vnipplee', of the tube e, is interposed asmall puppet valve fu, restingnormally on a seat c',

in the casing fvg, and movable l*between said i seat c, and the aperturee3, in the top of the vcasing e?. A stop cock w, is interposed in thepipe e, between the air cup N and the valve c, so that the latter may becut out when desired. Attached to the nipple e', is a -iexible tube arubber bu b or equivalent F.l It will be seen that the valve v, may bedesigned as a double acting since it performs the' double function of arelief and a check valve.

As shown in the drawings the hammer h, is made to reciprocate byelectromagnetism,.said hammer being attached to, the free end of a leverH carrying an armature k', op osed to the cores of two electro-niagnetsG. The rear end of the armature le-V ver H is connected with a spring7b2, WhiC-h'is in turn connected with an adjustingl screw h3, by whichthe tension of the spring may be regulated. The lever H is insulatedfrom its fulcrum by a sleeve or bushing of insulating material i, shownin Fig. 3, and carries a contact breaker h4, of any desired or wellknown construction.

B is a'battery or other source of electrical energy controlled by aswitch S. The current, when turned on passes through the coils of theelectro-magnets G, to the standard J and through the latter to thecontacts y', y, and through them to the Contact breaker 7L, and lever Hfrom which the circuit is oompleted through the connection /c,--thecurrent being alternately opened and. closed by the action of theelectro-1naguets in theusual and Well known manner. As a result the airWithin the chamber d, .is alternately coinpressed and relaxed and thepulsations or variations in density or pressure are transmitted throughtubing 1', to the nozzle or nozzles r, the cock w, being preferably clsed.

When it is desired to vary the pressurey above or below normal oratmospheric pressure, the cock w, is opened, so as to render the valvec', available. Under these eonditions, if the bulb Fis collapsed slowlythe excess of air will raise the valve e, slightly lroin its seat e',and allow such excess to escape upon the other end of which is ICOwithout perceptibly affecting the air in the diaphragm chamber d. .lfnew the bulb be released its automatic .expansion will cause suctionwhich will hold the valve o, on its seat u, and create a partial vacuumwithin the air chamber d 'which of course, creates suction in the tuber. If, on the contrary, it is desired to create an excess of pressurewith- -in the diaphragm chamber d, and tube r, the 1o bulb F iscompressed forcibly and rapidly, immediately driving .the valve 1),upward, closing the aperture r3, and forcing an excess ofair into saiddiaphragm chamber d and tubing 1". By these various manipulations I '15am enabled to adapt and modify the action of my apparatus to the specialrequirements of patients under treatment. Thus if the ear drum iscollapsed .or drawn inward, the partial vacuum or suction treatment isrezo sorted to through the external ear passages,

whereas if the tympanum is distended outward for any reason an excess ofpressure is utilized in like manner. Or the vreverse treatment may beresorted to in like cases 2 5 where the treatment is administeredthrough `the nasal passages and eustachian ducts.

I have found by actual experience that my apparatus may beeffectuallyused to relieve tinnitus aurium 4or fhead noises, to exerf 3o cise Vandstrengthen the tympanum and remedy or correct'its position Sac. It hasbeen found efficient in returning and even curing partial and prolongeddeafness; and may be used advantageously in loosening waxy de 3 5 positsWithin the inner ear. In fact, owing to lthe elasticity and resilienceof the air it may be thus used'where resort to more positivel rigidmeans would be inexpedient or dangerous.

` My a paratus is especially advantageous and use l`in substitutingelastic fluid air in lieu of liquids in the treatment of the ear,

since the practically incompressible liquids are apt to causemiiammation or even rup 4 ture unless skilfully used, and in cases Wherethe eustaehian tube is Wholly or partially closed my app aratusfurnishes the only avail able means of effective treatment.

What I claim as my invention and desire l -to secure by Letters Patentis,

1. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of an airchamber, a'

" diaphragm therein, means for forcing air under pressure into sald airchamber, means for v vibrating said diaphragm consisting of a vibatoryhammer lever provided with an armature actuated by electromagnetism,"and means for transmitting the resultant vibrations of air tpa patient, substantially in the 6o. manner and for the purposedescribed. In apparatus; of the character desig- Dated, the combinationof an air chamber, 4a

, l diaphragm therein, means for withdrawing air. from said air chamberfor the purpose of scribed.

reducing the tension in said chamber below atmospheric pressure, meansfor vibrating said diaphragm consisting of a vibratory hainn'icr loverprovided with an armature actuated by electro magnetism, and means fortransmittingr thc resultant vibrations of rareiied air to a patient,substantially set forth. 3. In apparatus of thc character desig'- nated,thc combination of an air chamber, va collapsible bulb connected withsaid air chambe'r, a rclicf and check valve interposed bc- 75 tween saidair chamber and said bulb, a diaphragm in. said ai'r chamber means forvibratmg said dlaphragl'n consisting of a vibratory .hammer leverprovided with an armature actuated by electro-magnetisln, and means for8o transmitting the resultant vibrations of air to a patient,substantially in-the manner and for the purpose described.

4. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of an airchamber, 85. means for exhausting air therefrom, a relief and checkvalve interposed between said air chamber and said-means of exhaust, adiaphragm in said air-chamber, means for vibrating said diaphragmconsisting of a vibratory hammer lever provided withl an arp matureactuated' by electro-magnetism, and l .means for transmitting theresultant vibra- IOS v`chamber, a check 'valve interposed betweensaidair chamber and said bu b, a stop cock -interposed between said airchamber and said check valve, means for vibrating said dia- -phragm andmeans for transmitting-the' resultant vibrations of air to a patient,substantially in `the manner and for the purpose de I I 5 7. Inapparatus of the4 character desig? nated, the combinationofan airchamber, means for exhausting air therefrom, a relief valve interposedbetween said air chamber and said means of exhaust, a stopv cock interosed between' said air chamber 'and said re iief valve, a diaphragm insaid air chamber', i means for l vibrating said diaphragm, and f meansrfor transmitting the resultant vibrations of air to a patient,substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

8. ln apparatus of they character designated, the combination 'of anVair chamber esame; ..8

meansl for exhausting air therefrom, a check tions of air to a patient,substantially in the valve interposed between said air chamber mannerand for the purpose described.

and said' means of exhaust, a stop oook interposed between said airchamber and said check valve, a diaphragm in said -air chamber, meansfor vibrating said diaphragm, and

means for transmitting the resultant Vibra- EUGENE MEYER.

- Witnesses: A

D. W. GARDNER, GEO. WM. MIATT.

